US2513299A

US2513299A - Method and apparatus for treating cashmere or similar fleeces

Info

Publication number: US2513299A
Application number: US709505A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert A Fairbairn
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-11-13
Filing date: 1946-11-13
Publication date: 1950-07-04
Anticipated expiration: 1967-07-04

Description

Jy 4, 1 950 R. A. FAIRBAIRN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING CASHMERE 0R SIMILAR FLEECES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 13, 1946 July 4, 195% R. A. FAIRBAIRN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING CASHMERE 0R SIMILAR FLEECES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 15. 1946 Patented July '4, 1950 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING CASHMERE OR SDWILAR FLEECES Robert A. Falrbairn, Needham, Mass.

Application November 13, 1946, Serial No. 709,505

12 Claims.

This invention relates to the preparation and removal or partial removal of coarse stifl fibers from cashmere, camels hair and fleeces of other animals which are comprised of relatively fine crimpy fibers and coarse stifl fibers or beard hairs, and it is in the nature of a modification of one aspect of the invention disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 410,300 filed September 10, 1941, entitled Method and Apparatus for Separating Fibers (now Patent No. 2,420,033). This application is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No. 706,488, filed October 29, 1946, entitled Method and Apparatus for Separating Fibers.

The soft, fine, crimpy fibers of cashmere, camels hair, wool and the like are very valuable for making fabrics, whereas the coarse still fibers thereof (known as beard or kemp hairs) are generally undesirable for such use and this invention relates to a novel and improved method and apparatus for dividing the coarse stiif fibers into segments while leaving the majority at least of the fine crimpy fibers of greater length thereby to prepare an aggregate from which the shorter segments of the coarse stifi fibers may be readily separated to provide a segregated aggregate of fine crimpy fibers.

The invention will be explained with primary reference to cashmere although it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that it is equally applicable to camels hair, wool or to any other animal fleece comprising relatively fine crimpy fibers and undesirable coarse stifi fibers.

Cashmere fleece is obtained from the cashmere goat which is native in Tibet and Northern India. The fleece is received in bale form and consists of a mixture of fine crimpy fibers (down fibers), coarse stiff fibers (beard hairs), dandruff, natural oil or grease and dirt. The grease and dirt are removed by scouring leaving a jumbled mass which, on the average, consists of approximately 75% by weight of fine crimpy fibers, 25% coarse stifl fibers and dandrufi. Prior to this invention so far as I know the coarse stiff fibers and dandruff were removed by repeated carding and combing, and also in Japan, by picking out the coarse stifi fibers by hand. The carding and combing operation is very expensive due both to the many carding and combing operations necessary for removal of the coarse stiff fibers and to the waste of down fibers which are removed with the coarse stifi' fibers. Furthermore, a cashmere top made by that process still contains a considerable number of coarse stifi fibers, the percentage often being as high as by weight. When free cashmere noils (fine crimpy fibers substantially free from coarse stifi fibers) are produced by carding and combing. the fine crimpy fibers are broken up into very short lengths and the value of such fibers is limited.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a novel method and a novel apparatus for dividing the majority at least of the coarse stiff fibers into short lengths while leaving the majority at least of the fine crimpy fibers of an average length which is greater than the average length of the coarse stiff fibers thereby to prepare an aggregate from which the shorter stiif fibers readily may be separated to leave an aggregate of the longer crimpy fibers.

A further object is to provide an improved method and apparatus which is economical in operation and in construction.

Further objects will be apparent from the consideration of the following description and of the annexed drawings in which three embodiments of my apparatus are chosen for the purpose of illustration.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view in elevation, illustrating one embodiment of appropriate mechanical apparatus elements adapted to perfor one embodiment of the method.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan of the section of the apparatus of Fig. 1 from the arrow A to the arrow B looking in the direction of the arrow C, showing the apparatus for condensing the card web or film into a sliver and one embodiment of fiber dividing means.

3 is an elevation with parts shown in section of a modified form of fiber dividing means.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view in elevation, illustrating another embodiment of appropriate mechanical apparatus elements adapted to perform the several steps of another embodiment of the method.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view showing details of one end of the fiber dividing means illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 4.

The fine crimpy fibers of cashmere, camels hair and wool are approximately one third as long in retracted condition as they are in fully extended or straight condition. y In other words, if a fine crimpy fiber is extended by grasping its ends and if the ends are then released the fiber returns to its natural crimpy condition and its length in such condition is approximatelyv one third of its length in its straight or fully extended condition.

Cashmere and camels hair is normally sorted at the country of origin into three grades. In the first grade of camels hair the average retracted length of the fine fibers is about 0.75 inch and the average extended length is approximately 2.15 inches; in the second grade the average retracted length is approximately 1.25 inches and the average extended length is approximately 3.75 inches; and in the third grade the average retracted length is approximately 1.75

inches and the average extended length is approximately 5.25 inches.. In each of these grades of camel's hair the length of coarse stiff fibers varies from about 1.5 inches to about inches and the coarse fibers are much stiffer and much straighter than the fine fibers.

In the first grade of cashmere the average retracted length of the fine fibers is approximately 1.5 inches; in the second grade it is approxiinch to about 3 inches in the grades of wool which are appropriate for treatment by the method of this invention. The coarse stiff fibers (kemp hairs) are much stiffer and straighter and their length varies from about 2 inches to about 6 inches.

The raw stock to be processed preferably is first taken from the bale or bag in which it was packed in the place of its origin and is dusted and scoured for the purpose of removing as much sand, dust, vegetable defect and natural grease as possible. The steps of scouring and dusting are not necessary but are preferred.

The stock is then fed to a machine which is adapted to open up the fiber and pull apart the matted tips and cots for the dual purpose of releasing additional entrapped impurities and disposing the fiber over the width of the machine in an increasingly thinner web or film as it progresses along the length of the machine from feed to delivery. Such a machine may be a card or a garnett. The thickness of the web or film as it is delivered by the card or garnett may vary from an average of 1 or 2 fibers thick to an average of several fibers thick. The fine crimpy fibers and the coarse stiff fibers are intermingled in the film or web and they cross and recross each other. The fine crimpy fibers are in retracted condition whereas the coarse stiff fibers are in generally extended condition. An illustration of one embodiment of such a web is illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings of my said copending application Serial No. 410,300 (now Patent No. 2,420,033).

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the film or web F is removed from the card or garnett cylinder by a doffer cylinder 10, it is advanced by the doffer cylinder to the reciprocating doffer comb H which removes the film or web from the surface of the dofier cylinder and deposits it upon the condensing aprons II and 12. The condensing apron l'l is continuously driven toward the longitudinal center line of the machine by the rolls I3 and I4 and the condensing apron I2 is driven in the opposite direction by the rolls I5 and I6. These aprons serve to condense the film or web of fibers into a sliver S which is fed through the trumpet l8 and is periodically advanced to the cutter 19 by the feed rolls 20 and 2| which may be provided with ratchet or other suitable means for periodically rotating them a predetermined distance.

The sliver S rests upon the smooth surface of the cutter plate 22 and the reciprocating cutter 23 is periodically lowered and raised in timed relationship with the step by step rotation of the feed rolls, so that it severs the fibers in the sliver at intervals which are spaced apart a distance equal to the distance which the sliver is advanced during each periodic rotation of the feed rolls.

The cut aggregate is deposited upon the surface of the apron 24 and is advanced thereby to the feed roll 26. The feed roll 26 continuously removes the fibers from the conveyor belt 24 and carries them to the bite of the rolls 26 and 21. The roll 21 continuously transfers them to the surface of the cylinder 28 which as illustrated is provided with card clothing.

Three sets of workers and strippers Zip-29 30 -30! and 3l 3| are mounted above the cylinder 28 and the cylinder 28 and these workers and strippers cooperate to rearrange the fibers in the form of a thin web or film F which extends throughout the width of the face of the cylinder 28 and in which fine and coarsefibers are intermingled.

The dofier cylinder 33 is provided with card clothing the teeth of which point in the direction indicated and it may be rotated in a counterclockwise direction at a smaller surface speed than that of the cylinder 28, the ratio being of the order of 1 to 10.

The rotary brush 34 is rovided with bristles which are relatively stiff and it is rotated in a counterclockwise direction at a substantially greater surface speed than that of the doffer 33. The dofier cylinder 35 is provided with card clothing and is rotated at'a slower surface speed than that of the brush 34 and in a clockwise direction. The stripper cylinder 36 is provided with card clothing and it may be rotated at a faster surface speed than that of the doffer cylinder 35 and in a clockwise direction. The rotary brush 31 is similar in construction to the brush 34 and it is rotated in a counterclockwise direction at a substantially greater surface speed than that of the stripper cylinder 36. The cylinder 38 is provided with card clothing and it is rotated at a greater surface speed than that of the brush 31.

The doffer cylinder 33 removes the film or web F from the surface of the cylinder 28 and the tips of the bristles of the brush 34 engage the fine crimpy fibers while they are on the surface of the cylinder 33 and they straighten the fine fibers, remove them from the retentive clothing of the cylinder 33 and advance them at a greatly ac- -celerated speed. This causes many of the segments of the coarse stiff fibers to be thrown downwardly and free from the film or web F substantially at the region of removal of the film or web from the surface of the cylinder 33. The cylinder 35 removes the film or web from the surface of the brush 34 and the cylinder 36 removes the film or web from the surface of the cylinder 35 and advances it upwardly, forwardly and downwardly. The brush 31 acting against the back of the teeth of the card clothing of the cylinder 36 removes the film or web F from the surface of the cylinder 36 and causes additional segments of the coarse stiff fibers to be thrown downwardly and free from the film or web.

The cylinder 38 removes the film or web from the surface of the brush 31 and subjects it'to the action of the workers and strippers 39"--39 40 -40 and 4 "-4 l The action of the cylinder 38 and the workers and strippers is to straighten out to some extent the fine crimpy fibers and to rearrange them in the form of a relatively thin The dividing apparatus illustrated in Fig. 3 comprises a base plate 80 and a rotary member 8| which carries a plurality of dividing elements 82. These dividing elements extend helically of the rotary member 8| and are parallel to each other. This apparatus functions like a lawnmower and the ends of the dividing elements 82 engage the base plate 80 to divide the fibers of the web or film F at intervals which are spaced apart a distance corresponding to the distance between the severing edges of the dividing elements 82.

In use, the film or web F is advanced continuously along the surface of the base plate 80 and the member BI is rotated continuously in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 3. The dividing means of Fig. 3, for example, may be substituted for the dividing means 56 of Fig. 4 or for the dividing means I9 of Fig. 1. When this dividing means is substituted for the dividing means IQ of Fig. 1 the step by step feed of the rolls 20 and 2! is changed to a continuous feed. When this dividing means i substituted for that of Fig. 4 the film or web F is delivered to the surface of the plate 80 by a moving apron similar to the apron 24 of Fig. l and feed rolls similar to the rolls 26 and 21 of Fig. l are substituted for the rotary brush SI of Fig. 4, so that the aggregate of fibers which is advanced from the dividing means 80, BI and 82 is deposited upon the apron, advanced by the apron to the feed rolls and advanced by the feed rolls to the surface of the cylinder 60. An apron 24 suitable for delivering the film or web F to the dividing means is illustrated in Fig. 3.

In use of the embodiments of Figs. 3, 4, and the coarse fibers may be removed from the fine fibers after the dividing step by any of the methods disclosed in my said copending applications Serial Nos. 410,300, 465,217, 582,852 (now Patents 2,420,033, 2,420,035 2,420,036), 706,487, and 706,488.

While I have shown and described three desirable methods and three desirable embodiments of apparatus embodying my invention, it is to be understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that equivalent forms of the apparatus may be used and the sub-' stitution of equivalent method steps may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Method of treating cashmere or similar fleeces comprising intermingled coarse stiff fiber and fine crimpy fibers comprising passing to a cutting zone an aggregate of intermingled fibers in which the majority at least of the crimpy fibers are in substantially retracted condition, severing the aggregate at intervals which are spaced apart a greater distance than the average length of the retracted crimpy fibers but less than the average length of the coarse stiff fibers, whereby the average length of a substantial portion at least of the coarse stiff fibers in the resultant aggregate is less than the average extended length of the majority at least of the fine crimpy fibers, forming the resultant aggregate into a web or film of the character of a web or film produced by a carding machine, treating the web or film to remove a substantial portion at least of the shorter stiff fibers and collecting the residue which comprises longer crimpy fibers.

2. Method of treating cashmere or similar fieeces comprising intermingled coarse tiff fibers and fine crimpy fibers comprising passing to a cutting zone an aggregate of intermingled fibers in which the majority at least of the crimpy fibers are in substantially retracted condition, severing the aggregate at intervals which are spaced apart a distance of from of an inch to 3 inches whereby the average length of a substantial portion at least of the coarse stiff fibers in the resultant aggregate is less than the average extended length of the majority at least of the fine crimpy fibers, forming the resultant aggregate into a web or film of the character of a web or film produced by a carding machine, treating the web or film to remove a substantial portion at least of the shorter stifi fibers and collecting the residue which comprises longer crimpy fibers.

3. Method of treating cashmere or similar fleeces comprising intermingled coarse stiff fibers and fine crimpy fibers comprising carding the fleece to form a web or film of intermingled fibers in which the majority at least of the crimpy fibers are in substantially retracted condition, severing the web or film at intervals which are spaced apart a greater distance than the average length of the retracted crimpy fibers but less than the average length of the coarse stiff fibers, whereby the average length of a substantial portion at least of the coarse stiif fibers in the resultant aggregate is less than the average extended length of the majority at least of the fine crimpy fibers, forming the resultant aggreate into a web or film of the character of a web or film produced by a carding machine, treating the latter web or film to remove a substantial portion at least of the shorter stiff fibers and collecting the residue which comprises longer crimpy fibers.

4. Method of treating cashmere or similar fieeces comprising intermingled coarse stifi fibers and fine crimpy fibers comprising carding the fieece to form a web or film of intermingled fibers in which the majority at least of the crimpy fibers are in substantially retracted condition, severing the web or film at intervals which are spaced apart a distance of from of an inch to 3 inches, whereby the average length of a substantial portion at least of the coarse stiff fibers in the resultant aggregate is less than the average extended length of the majority at least of the fine crimpy fibers, forming the resultant aggregate into a web or film of the character of a web or film produced by a carding machine, treating the latter web or film to remove a substantial portion at least of the shorter stiff fibers and collecting the residue which comprises longer crimpy fibers.

5. Method of treating cashmere or similar fleeces comprising intermingled coarse stiff fibers and fine crimpy fibers comprising carding the fieece to form a web or film of intermingled fibers, condensing the web to form a sliver in which the majority at least of the crimpy fibers are in substantially retracted condition and extend generally longitudinally thereof, severing the sliver at intervals which are spaced apart a greater distance than the average length of the retracted crimpy fibers but less than the average length of the coarse stiii fibers, whereby the average length of a substantial portion at least of the coarse stiif fibers in the resultant aggregate is less than the average extended length of the majority at least of the fine crimpy fibers, forming the resultant aggregate into a web or film of the character of a web or film produced by a carding machine, treating the latter web or film brush 34 throwin the fibers into the teeth of the cylinder 35.

The doifer cylinder 42 removes the web or film F from the surface of the cylinder 38 and the reciprocating dofier comb 43 removes the film from the surface of the cylinder 42 and deposits it in the container 44.

If the coarse fibers have not been sufiiciently removed from the film or web F as it leaves the cylinder 38 it may be passed through another series of rolls and brushes like the rolls and brushes 33, 34, 35, 36 and 31.

I have discovered that if the sliver S is prepared so that the crimpy fibers are in retracted condition and it is cut or divided at intervals which are spaced apart a greater distance than the average length of the retracted crimpy fibers, and smaller than the average length of the coarse stifi fibers, the average length of the majority at least of the coarse stiff fibers in the resultant mass is less than the average length of the majority at least of the fine crimpy fibers. If each step by step feed is maintained in the range of from of an inch to 3 inches, depending upon the average length of the retracted fine crimpy fibers in the stock which is being run, the resultant divided aggregate contains fine crimpy fibers having an average extended length which is greater than the average length of the resultant coarse fibers. This permits the ready separation of the fine fibers from the coarse fibers in the subsequent separating step.

In the treatment of the first grade of camels hair, for example, the amount of each step by step feed is preferably 0.75 inch or slightly more; in the treatment of the second grade of camels hair 1.25 inches or slightly more and in the treatment of the third grade of camels hair 1.75 inches or slightly more. If ungraded camels hair stock is being run the amount of each step by step feed preferably is adjusted to slightly more than 1.75 inches, for example, two inches.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that corresponding adjustments may be made for the various grades of cashmere and wool thereby to provide stage products from which the shorter coarse fibers may be readily removed from the longer fine fibers.

The coarse fibers may be removed from the fine fibers by any of the methods disclosed in my said copending applications Serial No. 410,300 (now Patent No. 2,420,033) and 706,488, or in my copending applications Serial No. 465,217, filed November 11, 1942, entitled Method and Apparatus for Separating Fibers (now Patent No. 2,420,035), Serial No. 582,852, filed March 15, 1945, entitled "Means for Separating Short Coarse Fibers from Long Fine Fibers (now Patent No. 2,420,036), or Serial No. 706,487, filed ctober 29, 1946, entitled Method and Apparatus for Separating Fibers. Generally speaking, however, except for the method disclosed in Serial No. 706,487, filed October 29, 1946, wherein the coarse fibers are gripped, the shorter the segments of coarse fibers are the easier it is to remove them-from the longer fine fibers.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 the film or web F is removed from the doffer cylinder 50 by the reciprocating dofier comb 5| and is deposited upon the apron 52 which is suitably supported by and driven by the rolls 53 and 54. The web or film F is carried by the upper 6 run of the apron 52 to the fiber dividing apparatus indicated generally by the arrow 56.

The dividing apparatus 56 comprises a rigid roll 51 havin a smooth hard surface which'cooperates with the roll 58. The roll 58 is mounted in suitable bearings capable of micrometer adjustment, so as to vary the distance between the peripheries of the rolls58 and 51. The surface of theroll 58 is provided with cutting or dividing elements, for example, a plurality of steel wires 58 (Fig. 5) wrapped helically about the surface of the roll 58 and attached or passed around the pins 58 or other suitable means. The wires may be of circular cross section, of a diameter of about 0.01 of an inch and preferably they are spaced apart a distance of from of an inch to 3 inches and the spacing may be determined by the average length of the retracted crimpy fibers in the stock which is being run. For example, a plurality of dividing rolls may be provided each having its dividing elements spaced a different distance apart from that of each of the other rolls and the appropriate roll may be selected and installed in the machine depending upon the average length of the retracted crimpy fibers in the grade of stock which is to be run.

The rolls 51 and 58 are driven in opposite directions at substantially the same surface speed and at substantially the same surface speed as, or at a slightly greater surface speed than, that of the apron 52. As the aggregate of intermingled fibers in the form of the film or web F is passed between the bite of the rolls 51 and 58 the crimpy fibers are in substantially retracted condition and the action of the driving dividing elements 58 against the surface of the roll 51 divides the aggregate at spaced intervals each corresponding to the distance between the adjacent dividing elements 58 The resultant aggregate is carried forwardly and downwardly by the roll 51 and is transferred from the roll 51 to the surface of the cylinder 60 by the rotating brush 6|. As in the case of the aggregate which is produced by the reciprocating dividing action of the member 23 in Fig. 1 this aggregate is comprised of relatively short sections of coarse stiff fibers and fine crimpy fibers the majority at least of which are longer than the coarse fibers and have an average length which is greater than that of the coarse fibers.

The cylinder 60 is provided with card clothing and it cooperates with the workers and strippers fibers to the form of a continuous thin film or web F.

The cylinders and brushes 64, 65, 66, 61, and 68 correspond to the cylinders and brushes 33, 34, 35, 36 and 31 of Fig. 1 and they function to. separate the coarse fibers from the film or web so that when the film or web F is removed from the brush 68 by the cylinder 10 it comprises soft crimpl fibers substantially free from coarse stiff fibers. The cylinder 10 and the workers and strippers 1| 1l 12*= -12 and 13 -43 rearrange the fibers received from the brush 68 to the form of a thin film or web. The doffer cylinder 14 removes the film or web from the cylinder 10 and the reciprocating dofier comb 15 removes it from the dofier 14 and deposits it in the container 16.

Additional brush and cylinder motions similar to the cylinder 64 and brush 65 may be added after the cylinder 10 if they are required to remove additional coarse stifl fibers.

to remove a substantial portion at least of the shorter stiii fibers and collecting the residue which comprises longer crimpy fibers.

6. Method of treating cashmere or similar fieeces comprising intermingled coarse stifi fibers and fine crimpy fibers comprising carding the fieece to form a web or film of intermingled fibers, condensing the web to form a sliver in which the majority at least of the crimpy fibers are in substantially retracted condition and extend generally longitudinally thereof, severing the sliver at intervals which are spaced apart a distance of from of an inch to 3 inches, whereby the average length of a substantial portion at least of the coarse stifi fibers in the resultant aggregate is less than the average extended length of the majority at least of the fine crimpy fibers, forming the resultant aggregate into a web or film of the character of a web or film produced by a carding machine, treating the latter web or film to remove a substantial portion at least of the shorter stiff fibers and cwlecting the residue which comprises longer crimpy fibers.

7. Apparatus for use in separating cashmere or similar fleeces comprising intermingled coarse stifi fibers and fine crimpy fibers comprising means for forming an aggregate of intermingled fibers in which the majority at least of the crimpy fibers are in substantially retracted condition, means for severing the aggregate at intervals which are spaced apart a greater distance than the average length of the retracted crimpy fibers but less than the average length of the coarse stiff fibers, whereby the average length of a substantial portion at least of the coarse stiff fibers in the resultant aggregate is less than the average extended length of the majority at least of the fine crimpy fibers and means for separating a substantial portion at least of the shorter stiff fibers from the longer crimpy fibers.

8. Apparatus for use in separating cashmere or similar fleeces comprising intermingled coarse stiff fibers and fine crimpy fibers comprising means for forming an aggregate of intermingled fibers in which the majority at least of the crimpy fibers are in substantially retracted condition, means for severing the aggregate at intervals which are spaced apart a distance of from A of an inch to 3 inches, whereby the average length of a substantial portion at least of the coarse stiff fibers in the resultant aggregate is less than the average extended length of the majority at least of the fine crimpy fibers, and

means for separating a substantial portion at least of the shorter stiff fibers from the longer crimpy fibers.

9. Apparatus for use in separating cashmere or similar fleeces comprising intermingled coarse stiff fibers and fine crimpy fibers comprising rotary severing means, means operative to present the intermingled fibers to the severing means in a continuous aggregate in which flie majority at least of the crimpy fibers are in substantially retracted condition, the severing means including longitudinally extending substantially parallel severing elements which are spaced apart a greater distance than the average length of the retracted crimpy fibers but less than the average length of the coarse stifi fibers, whereby the average length 01' a substantial portion at least 01' the coarse stifl! fibers in the resultant aggregate is less than the average extended length 01' the majority at least of the fine crimpy fibers and means for separating a subwhereby the average length of a substantial portion at least of the coarse stiff fibers in the resultant aggregate is less than the average extended length of the majority at least of the fine crimpy fibers, and means for separating a substantial portion at least of the shorter stifi fibers from the longer crimpy fibers.

11. Apparatus for use in separating cashmere,-

or similar fleeces comprising intermingled coarse still fibers and fine crimpy fibers comprising reciprocating severing means, means operative to form the intermingled fibers into a continuous aggregate in which the majority at least of the crimpy fibers are in substantially retracted condition, means for periodically advancing the aggregate for engagement by the severing means at intervals which are spaced apart a greater distance than the average length of the retracted crimpy fibers but less than the average length of the coarse stiff fibers, whereby the average length of a substantial portion at least of the coarse stiff fibers in the resultant aggregate is less than the average extended length of the majority at least of the fine crimpy fibers and means for separating a substantial portion at least of the shorter stiff fibers from the longer crimpy fibers.

12. Apparatus for use in separating cashmere or similar fleeces comprising intermingled coarse stifi fibers and fine crimpy fibers comprising reciprocating severing means, means operative to form the intermingled fibers into a continuous aggregate in which the majority at least of the crimpy fibers are in substantially retracted condition, means for periodically advancing the aggregate for engagement by the severing means at intervals which are spaced apart a distance of from of an inch to 3 inches, whereby the average length of a substantial portion at least of the coarse stiff fibers in the resultant aggregate is less than the average extended length of the majority at least of the fine crimpy fibers and means for separating a substantial portion at least of the shorter stiif fibers from the longer crimpy fibers.

ROBERT A. FAIRBAIRN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Mar. 20, 1936 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,513,299 July 4, 1950 ROBERT A. FAIRBAIRN It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 6, line 36, strike out the word driving;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 10th day of October, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

Claims

1. METHOD OF TREATING CASHMERE OR SIMILAR FLEECES COMPRISING INTERMINGLED COARSE STIFF FIBERS AND FINE CRIMPY FIBERS COMPRISING PASSING TO A CUTTING ZONE AN AGGREGATE OF INTERMINGLED FIBERS IN WHICH THE MAJORITY AT LEAST OF THE CRIMPY FIBERS ARE IN SUBSTANTIALLY RETRACTED CONDITION, SEVERING THE AGGREGATE AT INTERVALS WHICH ARE SPACED APART A GREATER DISTANCE THAN THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF HTE RETRACTED CRIMPY FIBERS BUT LESS THAN THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION AT LEAST OF HTE COARSE STIFF FIBERS IN THE RESULTANT AGGREGATE IS LESS THAN THE AVERAGE EXTENDED LENGTH OF THE MAJORITY AT LEAST OF THE FINE CRIMPY FIBERS, FORMING THE RESULTANT AGGREGATE INTO A WEB OR FILM OF THE CHARACTER OF A WEB OR FILM PRODUCED BY A CARDING MACHINE, TREATING THE WEB OF FILM TO REMOVE A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION AT LEAST OF THE SHORTER STIFF FIBERS AND COLLETING THE RESIDUE WHICH COMPRISES LONGER CRIMPY FIBERS.